More Stories

BSO oboist Michael J. Lisicky leads a second life as the author of several bestselling books, including Hutzler’s: Where Baltimore Shops (2009) and Baltimore's Bygone Department Stores: Many Happy Returns (2012). In demand as a department store historian, he has given lectures at institutions such as the New York Public Library, the Boston Public Library, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the Milwaukee County Historical Society, the Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Jewish Museum of Maryland. His books have received critical acclaim from the Baltimore Sun, Baltimore City Paper, Style Magazine, Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News, Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Pittsburgh Post Gazette. He has been interviewed by national business periodicals including Fortune Magazine, Investor’s Business Daily and Bloomberg Businessweek. His book Gimbels Has It! was recommended by National Public Radio’sMorning Edition program as “One of the Freshest Reads of 2011.” Mr. Lisicky helps run an “Ask the Expert” column with author Jan Whitaker at departmentstorehistory.net and resides in Baltimore, where he is an oboist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Michael's books are available at Amazon.com, historypress.net, Barnes and Noble, the Fell's Point Visitor Center, Greetings and Readings in Hunt Valley, and many area bookstores. Books may also be purchased at the Symphony Store. Sales from the Symphony Store benefit the Baltimore Symphony Associates.

If [Hutzler’s] doesn’t become the hottest local holiday gift this year, I’ll be very surpised. It’s beautifully written, obviously by someone who has an affinity for department stores. —Frederick N. Rasmussen, Baltimore Sun

To hear Mr. Lisicky talk, writing this book was simply his destiny. —Alan Feiler, Baltimore Jewish Times

Lisicky spins the tale of the 132 year old store whose downtown store and spawns in Towson offered fashion and style before closing one by one, until all that was left was a memory. —City Paper (Baltimore)

The position of Official Historian of East Coast Department Stores is no longer available, now that author Michael J. Lisicky has followed upHutzler’s: Where Baltimore Shops with Wanamaker’s: Meet Me at the Eagle. —Patrick Rapa, Philadelphia City Paper

[Wanamaker’s is] a loving history of the store that once “defined Center City Philadelphia.” —Elizabeth Wellington, Philadelphia Inquirer

Wanamaker’s is a wonderfully affectionate look at the Market St. store whose name, for generations, was symbolic of Philly. —Ronnie Polaneczky, Philadelphia Daily News

The time is ripe for a book about Gimbels. Lisicky has built a national reputation as a department store expert, regularly answering questions online and as a radio talk-show guest. —Elizabeth Wellington, Philadelphia Inquirer

[Gimbels] is a passionate history of an iconic store. —Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Lisicky recalls the glory days of Gimbels. It is an evocative book filled with photos and recipes. —Marylynn Pitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette